Situated in the BΓrsa region, at the foot of Mount TΓmpa (960m), the city has the aspect of an auditorium whose steps are made up of the mountains and hills surrounding the city. Bra║ov and its surrounding area are set against a highly beautiful landscape. This includes such landmarks as the botanical park on the TΓmpa, the ôDaffodils Clearingö on the way to the town of Fπgπra║, as well as the neighbouring town of Codlea, famous for its flower plantations.
One of the most important medieval fortresses in Transylvania, Bra║ov has preserved much of the aspect of an old burg, which is part of the cityÆs charm. The Teutonic Knights, who were invited here at the beginning of the 13th century by King Andrew II to strengthen the Oriental region of the Hungarian Kingdom, called it ôKronstadt,ö the city of the crown. During the Middle Ages, the inhabitants of Bra║ov organized in corporations on the model of the German burgs. They also knew how to acquire from the princes of Wallachia various commercial benefits that secured their prosperity. The proximity of the castle of Bran, a commercial checkpoint between Transylvania and Wallachia, made it possible for the people of Bra║ov to have control over commercial exchanges and defend against Ottoman attacks. The city has preserved numerous religious and secular edifices from the 13th to the 18th century, especially in the area formerly occupied by the fortified citadel of Schei. The city also has a long tradition in the field of education and printing. The first school was opened here as early as 1388 in the Black Church. Under the influence of such great humanists as Johannes Honterus (1498-1549) and Coresi the chronicler (1510-1581), Bra║ov became an important centre of education in the Romanian and German languages, endowed with a rich school library and a printing press. In one of the most beautiful medieval buildings of the city, the Town Hall, which dates from the 15th century, Prince Michael the Brave convened the Diet of Transylvania in 1600, before starting his Moldavian expedition with a view to uniting the three Romanian provinces.
The Austrian occupation that started in 1699 also left its mark on the city architecture, with many beautiful buildings in the Baroque style.
